INTRODUCTORY. 15 



I then offered to forward another consignment the following 

 season. 1 



Neither of these consignments was successful, nor was the 

 consignment of salmon ova from Mr. Capel by the same vessel, as 

 appears from Mr. Arthur's letters. 2 



1 3d July 1882. 



SIR, I beg to acknowledge yours of March 16th, and also the New Zealand Saturday 

 Advertiser of 8th April, with Mr. Deans' report, and I quite understand what has occurred. 

 The swan's-skin cloth has shrunk up too close, and stopped ventilation, and stifled the eggs. 

 Had it been otherwise, the ova would have hatched en route, not died, ten or twelve days 

 after the ice was exhausted. I think next time a refrigerator should be constructed small 

 enough to go into the ice-house, and broken ice and sawdust filled in en route. 



The weather was very mild here when the eggs were being packed, which probably accounts 

 for the ice being insufficient, as, from my own experience here, the quantity of ice mixed with 

 the sawdust was sufficient to have lasted three months. The zinc bottom of the trays I find 

 very successful, having packed about two million ova in the last season. The iron screws 

 were an oversight, brass ones being invariably used at the Fishery. So far as I remember, 

 Mr. Handyside started a steamer earlier than was expected, and there was some little push 

 getting the cases ready at the last moment. 



From the development I expect we shall have no difficulty in succeeding another time, 

 and I will be happy to offer you another box this season. 



I have never seen the eggs of the 0. quinnat, but as the fish itself differs so much in its 

 nature from the true salmon, it is just possible that the eggs may bear transport better than 

 those of the latter, just as we find the eggs of the fontinalis in this country much hardier than 

 those of the/ario. Yours truly, J. R. G. MAITLAND. 



W. AKTHCR, Esq., Hon. Sec. Otago Acclimatisation Society, Dunedin. 



OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY, 



DUNEDIN, Sept. 8th, 1882. 



DEAR SIR, Your favour of July 3d has been received, and will be duly considered at the 

 next meeting of the Council of this Society. But in order not to lose any time, I have deemed 

 it better to write by the mail which goes to-morrow morning. So, having consulted our 

 Chairman and Treasurer, I am directed to reply that the Society will feel exceedingly obliged 

 if you will carry out your kind offer, and send us a fresh lot of Lochleven trout ova. Our 

 representative in London is Mr. J. A. Ewen of Sargood, Sons, & Ewen, E.C., to whom the 

 box should be consigned, with instructions to see it properly placed in ice-house, with holes 

 for the ice-water to drip through and through, and to give it in charge of a responsible officer 

 who will see that the ice supply is regularly placed on top during the voyage. Mr. Ewen 

 also should wire us when ova is shipped, but I shall write him directions in good time. 

 There will probably be a direct bi-monthly line of steamers to Port Chalmers soon, which will 

 be an immense advantage for getting ova out safely. 



As you have not got any 0. quinnat ova, I shall send you a few by next mail, also a few 

 of your own Lochleven trout ova, so that you may form your own opinion. The salmon ova 

 I have in spirits, and the S. levenensis in glycerine. Yours faithfully, 



Sir J. G. MAITLAND, Bart., W. ARTHUR, Hon. Secy. 



Craigeud, Stirlingshire. 



OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY, 



DUNEDIN, March 21, 1883. 



DEAR STR, You would be sorry to learn from Mr. Ewen (whom I wired at once) that the 

 Lochleven trout ova you were so good as send us by the Nizam were found all dead on 

 arrival of that steamer at Melbourne. Our Manager, Mr. Deans, was waiting at Melbourne for 



